Tyler, The Creator Addresses Being Banned From the UK

After having to back out of a series of dates in the UK last week, including a performance at Reading & Leeds Festival, when he was banned from the country for five years, Tyler, The Creator has something to say. Monday, he was held at customs and later spoke to The Guardian, comparing the experience to being “treated like a terrorist.”

“Monday was one of the shittiest days I’ve ever had. I was in a detention room; I felt like a criminal. And then [a Border Force officer] showed me lyrics from songs… literally, a paper with five lines of lyrics… Thirty minutes later, the guy comes in, he gives me a paper, and he says, ‘OK, they’re not letting you in the country.’ The paper said I couldn’t come at all, saying that I support homophobia and acts of terrorism, and [it said] some other stuff. I’m just like, one, none of that is true, and two, I was here seven weeks ago.”

He went on to discuss, in disbelief, that their argument is holding, as it seems they are just following in the footsteps of Australia.

“The thing that irks me about it is that the paper saying I am denied entry to the UK clearly states that these songs were written from [the perspective of] an alter ego – which means they obviously did some research on these songs that they’re detaining me for. So the argument is right there! This song is written from an alter ego – I’m not like this! You could watch any interview and see my personality, see the guy I am. I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”